- Galleries
- Gallery Gal"ler*y, n.; pl. {Galleries}. [F. galerie, It.
galleria, fr. LL. galeria gallery, perh. orig., a festal
hall, banquetting hall; cf. OF. galerie a rejoicing, fr.
galer to rejoice. Cf. {Gallant}, a.]
1. A long and narrow corridor, or place for walking; a
connecting passageway, as between one room and another;
also, a long hole or passage excavated by a boring or
burrowing animal.
[1913 Webster]
2. A room for the exhibition of works of art; as, a picture gallery; hence, also, a large or important collection of paintings, sculptures, etc. [1913 Webster]
3. A long and narrow platform attached to one or more sides of public hall or the interior of a church, and supported by brackets or columns; -- sometimes intended to be occupied by musicians or spectators, sometimes designed merely to increase the capacity of the hall. [1913 Webster]
4. (Naut.) A frame, like a balcony, projecting from the stern or quarter of a ship, and hence called {stern gallery} or {quarter gallery}, -- seldom found in vessels built since 1850. [1913 Webster]
5. (Fort.) Any communication which is covered overhead as well as at the sides. When prepared for defense, it is a {defensive gallery}. [1913 Webster]
6. (Mining) A working drift or level. [1913 Webster]
{Whispering gallery}. See under {Whispering}. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
